Underwater settings for the 20D

[Skoobadiver]

Hey guys,
Want to pick a couple of brains out there on underwater setting prefrences. With the 20D there are a bunch of options and am a little curious as to preferred setting. How many of you set custom WB, ISO or Color Balance? Do any of you bracket WB? What is the preferred setting for macro with the 125?
I dove mine for the first time last weekend in it's new Ikelite housing and realized how many flippin buttons, switches and levers I had do keep track of about half way through the dive when the flash wasn't flashing the auto-focus wasn't focusing and the auto just wasn't auto. I was kinda missin' my Nikonos V.

 

[bladephotog]

Since I'm shooting RAW I just leave the WB in auto. I'll change the ISO as needed. I don't shoot any macro so can't help you with that.

 

[sharkbaitDAN]

I'm shooting the Rebel XT, but it should be similar. I set ISO to 200 most of the time. I shoot RAW also, so I haven't worried about WB. For macro, I was using the 100mm and dual 125s. I had them on TTL, and put the control on the back of the housing to manual, and used that to change the strobe settings. I'm still learning the set up, so I may change how I do things as I use it more.

 

[alcina]

RAW only, ever, underwater.

ISO 100 for me.

I use the * instead of the half press for focus. I've tried both but the * works much better for me in most instances. It's easy enough to switch around if necessary (in the custom menu).

So underwater all I change is my aperture and shutter. Pretty basic really.

Macro settings depend on what you want - use f8 for shallow DOF and interesting isolation; use f16 or smaller for increased DOF. Of course there are many more options, those are just some random numbers

I like a relatively fast shutter a lot of times, but that will depend on your background, too.

Which lens are you using? I thought I would use my 100 more, but so far I've found that I can't get far enough away from the fish with it so I have been using the 60 instead LOL

 

[Skoobadiver]

Alcina,
Thanks for the info. I agree with the troubles with the 100mm, I may move to the 60mm soon. I had an unfortunate flood on my trip to Aruba; so now I'm looking at replacing my 20D with a 30D. Ikelite is working on the new housing, so I may end up with a new rig soon. Goodness, I love Dan Equipment Insurance....

 

[Diver Dennis]

I use the 100 all the time Skoo. I shoot the same way alcina does, RAW manual all the time. I usually don't use as fast a shutter speed though. I have a Philippine diving Pictures thread in the photography forum if you want to see some 100mm macro shots. I use the Rebel XT.